Tribute to famous city shopkeeper Dave, unveiled after tragic death
Tribute to popular Sheffield shop owner
It is the ultimate tribute in memory of a beloved Sheffield shop owner.
And now the Premier convenience store, on Coppin Square, Parson Cross, carries a huge sign in tribute to long standing retailer Gurdev Singh Sangra, known locally as ‘Dave’, following his shock death earlier this year.
Well wishers gathered outside the shop yesterday evening (Wednesday June 10), to unveil the large blue sign, fastened to the side of the building, stating: “Dave’s”
After a countdown, the sign was unveiled to a loud cheer from the scores of people who had gathered, including relatives of Gurdev.
Gurdev, who moved to Sheffield from India at the age of nine, was the proud owner of The Premier convenience store in Coppin Square for nearly 30 years before his death this year aged 69.
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He first took over the business in 1996 with his wife Jagdish (known by locals as Mary) and remained a friendly face behind the till until his retirement last year.
Stevie Moore, who still lives across the street from the store told The Star: “It has been amazing - the community has funded this, and people were in tears when we unveiled the sign.
“Everyone was just there for the love of a great man.”
He had previously said: “Dave and Mary, as they liked to be known, became my first friends around here when I moved 25 years ago. I think many people can say something similar.
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“Dave was so generous. Everybody loved him. They weren’t a delivery service but I always saw Dave and Mary personally helping people with walking disabilities by bringing them their shopping on foot.
“He was someone you could rely on. There’s been times when I’ve had no money at all and he always used to say ‘Steve if you ever need anything I’ll help you out.’
“I always paid him back, but it just shows what a great person he was and how caring he could be..”